Hi, couldn't see any mention of this (unless I missed it). We will see what happens toward October

A judge says bitcoin is just another form of money, which means it could be exempt from capital gains tax – a decision that upends the Australian Taxation Office’s approach to taxing cryptocurrency and could open the door to millions in refunds.

The judgment – made public for the first time here – was made as part of a criminal case brought against a former Australian Federal Police officer who allegedly stole 81.6 bitcoin in 2019, then valued at approximately $492,000. Today it would be worth just over $13 million.

Wheatley’s defence team argued that bitcoin is information, not property, and therefore cannot be stolen. Michaela Pollock

Victorian magistrate Michael O’Connell said bitcoin was property, but akin to Australian dollars rather than foreign currency, shares or gold.

The implication is that just like exchanging a $20 note for two $10 notes, no tax is payable.

If upheld on appeal, the interlocutory decision could mean taxpayers who’ve paid capital gains tax on bitcoin transactions are eligible for refunds collectively worth as much as $1 billion, said tax lawyer Adrian Cartland, who acted as co-barrister for the defence.